Henry j



(No Model.)

H. J. ILES.

THILL COUPLING.

No. 408,976. Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. ILES, OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO E.

' A. MANVILLE, OF SAME PLACE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,976, dated August 13, 1889.

Application filed June 4, 1889. Serial No. 313,0 l0. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY J. ILES, of Ansonia, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Anti-Battling Devices for Thill- Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of ref erence marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a side view of a thill-coupling with the anti-rattling device applied; Fig. 2, a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section of the same; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section through the block G, showing the-bolt with its head; Fig. 5, a perspective View of the nut detached.

This invention relates to an improvement in devices to be combined with the couplings by which thills are attached to the axles of carriages for the purpose of preventing the coupling from rattling, the object of the invention being the construction of a device which may be applied between the thill-iron and the back of the shackle, which may be easily applied and adjusted to increase or diminish the pressure, and yet prevent it from accidental detachment; and it consists in the construction, as hereinafter described, and particularly recited the claims.

A A represent the two ears of a common construction of carriage-shackle, secured by a clip B to the axle O in the usual manner.

D represents the thill-iron, its eye E stand-- ing between the two ears A A, and through which and the ears the usual bolt F is introduced as the axis upon which the thilliron may turn. This is a common and well-known construction of thill-couplings.

As a means to prevent the eye from rattling on its bolt, I introduce an india-rubber block G between the eye E and the back of the shackle. This is introduced from the upper side and extends downward back of the eye E. From the under side a steel spring H is introduced, this spring extending across between the ears. It is of U shape, one leg of the U curved and turned upward, as at I, Fig. 3, the other leg terminating in a vertical flange J to bear against the end of the clipbar K. This leaves the curved end of the U forward and downward below the eye E.

Through the india-rubber block G a bolt L is introduced from the top downward, the bolt passing through the bend of the spring H, and so as to project below. This bolt is provided with a head H, the head consisting of a metal plate concavo-convex longitudinally, as seen in Fig. at, and of a length corresponding to the length of the block G, the concave side downward. The lower end of the bolt L is screw-threaded and receives a thumb-nut N. This nut 011 its face is constructed with diametrical cavities a, the curve of the cavities corresponding to the curve of the bend of the spring H, as seen in Fig. 5, and as also seen in Fig. 3, and so that the nut will seatitself uponthe curved surface of the spring.

On turning the nut the cavities a, a operate as cams against the spring, the elasticity of the rubber G yielding for such turning of the nut, the cavities being drawn onto the spring H by the elasticity of the block G. These cavities of the nut, combining with the corresponding convex shape of the spring, serve to interlock the nut and prevent its accidental turning, yet leave it so free that by applying suitableforce to the nut it may be rotated to compress the spring should occasion require. At the same time it permits the releasing of the block G, so that it may be removed should occasion require, as in removing or replacing the thills.

Because of the concavo-convex shape of the head M of the bolt, and embracing, as it does, the entire length of the elastic block G, it tends to compress the block from the ends inward, and so as to prevent the natural tendency of the block to turn outward at the ends. The bolt is bent downward and forward, as represented, so as to bring the screw and nut onto the convex surface of the spring H and bring the nut into convenient reach for operation.

The head M may be made from a plate attached to the bolt or as an integral part thereof.

1. Theherein-described anti-rattling device for thill-couplings, consisting of the indiarubber block G, combined with the U-shaped spring 11, the headed bolt L, extending through the block downward and through the curve of the said spring IT, and a nut N, having cavities diametrically across its face corresponding to the curve of the said spring, substantially as described.

The combination of the india-rubber block G, the bolt L, having a head M extending longitudinally across the said block G and of concave shape upon its underside, with the U-shaped spring H and the nut N, the said nut having cavities diametrically across its face corresponding to the curve of the spring II, substantially as and for the purpose described.

HENRY J. ILES. \Vitnesses:

JOHN D. BALLoU, EDW'ARD J. PRATT. 

